Deshmukh lab finds how neurons prevent cell death

Deshmukh lab discovers how neurons prevent cell death, a mechanism that is utilized by both Parkinson's disease and brain cancer cells. Their findings could ultimately impact the approach to and treatment of both ailments.

Deshmukh lab has determined how neurons and cancer cells prevent cell death, a finding that can impact the treatment of both Parkinson's disease and cancer. According to their findings, the protein PARC/CUL9 helps neurons and brain cells override the process that leads to cell death in other cells. The research not only identifies an unknown mechanism used by neurons for survival, but also shows that brain cancer cells hijack the same mechanism in order to survive, Their findings could ultimately impact the approach to and treatment of both Parkinson's and brain cancer. This finding has been the topic of several news reports, including these in News & Observer, Science Codex, and Digital Journal.